West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-02-24
THE MORMON BILL.
THE DAYS OF PoLYGAMY NUM-.
BERED.
Congress Deals Death Blow ut the
Twin Relic OF Barbarism.

The passage OF the conference report Fl
the Senate Is regarded by the Mormon man
ayers as death bloy. They have made ,
long and continuous flght for life and mus
now come under the national yoke.
The first six sections of the anti-polygam,
bill apply to prosecutions for bigamy. etc.
and make the wife or husband a csmoeten
witness, but not to be compelled TO testify. Tn,
seventh aud eighth sec ions apply TO the pow
ers Of court commissioners and OF the mar
shall and deputy marshals TIE ninth aud
tenth sections apply 20 the marriage cere.
mony. They require certificate, properly
authenticated, 20 be recorded I'm the office OF
the Probate Court. The eleventh section dis
approves and annuls all Territorial law,
recognizing the capacity OF illegitimat,
children to inherit or b. entitled 10 any dis
tributive shares in the estate OF the father.
The twelfth section disproves and annuls ter.
ritorial laws conterring jurisdiction upon
probate courts, with certain exceptions. The
thirteenth section makes IL the duty OF the
Attorney General of the United States TO I'm
stttute proceedings 20 escheat TO the United
States the property OF corporations obtained
or held In violation Of section OF the act of
July 1889, the proceeds OF such escheat 10 be
, applied to the use aud benefit of comm1
schools In the Territory.
The fourteenth section regulates proceed
ings in such cases. The fifteenth section dis
approves and annuls all laws OF the Legisla>
i've Assembly granting or continu ng the
perpetual Emigrating Fund Company and
dissolves that corporation. The sixteenth
section directs proceedings for the disposi
tiou OF the property and assets of ths Emf
grating Fund Company. All such property,
In excess OF debts aud lawful claims, is to
escheat TO the United States for the benefit
or common schools in the Territory. The
seventeenth section disapproveI aud anuuls
the acts of the legislative Assembly incor-
PoratinE o; providing Tor the Church of
Jesus Christ OF otter Day Saints and dis
solves that corporation IL makes IL the
duty OF the Attorney General of tho United
States to institute legal proceedings to wind
up the affairs of the corporation.
Section 10 gives TO the President the an
pointment OF Probate Judge in each coun-
ty. Section % makes IL unlawful for any
woman TO vote in any election, aud annuls
acts OF the Legislative Assembly which per
mits female suffrage. The four next ssctiops
make provision as to cleo ions AMI reuuire
OF voters an oath or afl ,mltiol 10 support
the constitution and obey the laws, especially
the anti-p1 lygamy act of NJ ,rch q. 1889. and
this act. Section p nbolshes the Office OF
Territorial Sup,rin'e ldent OF strict Scho ols
aud makes it the duty of tho Suprem.
Court Of the Territory to appoint a Commits.
sioner OF Schools. Section % gives to all re-
ligious societies, secs and congregations the
right to hold, through trustees app Iintei by
"a Pfoblte Cour', property for h )uses OF wor-
snip aud plrsjnages. Tho twenty-seventb
aud last section an1uls all territorial laws
for the organic ,tion Of the militia or for the
creition Of the Nluyoo Legion, and gives the
legislative Assembly OF Utah power TO pass
laws for organ zing the militia, subj ,ct to the
approval OF Congress. General officers of
the militia are to be appointed Ly the G. over
nor OF tbs Territory with the advice and con.
sent Of the Council.